Top Hanoi university accused of serving meals contaminated with worm, cockroach

The exposé was aired on Monday by Vietnam’s national television channel VTV1, with criticism against meals served at a cafeteria managed by a contracted meal provider within the school’s campus.

The students, assigned to assist with food service duties at the course, alleged that leftover rice from different tables was collected and mixed together, then re-served to the next group of students. Similarly, half-eaten bowls of soup were poured back into pots and redistributed.

The students supported their claims with videos and images recorded on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, showing strange objects and insects in their meals. They also reported about being served rotten eggs.

Nam, a student at the university, said he was “not surprised” by the news, as he had experienced similar issues during the military training course at the end of August.

As part of the course, which is a common practice in Vietnamese universities, Nam and his classmates stayed on campus for 10 days, where they attended classes, trained, and were provided with three meals a day at a cost of VND75,000 (US$3) per day.

Breakfast, costing VND15,000, typically consisted of rice cakes, buns, or bread with soy milk. However, Nam described lunch and dinner portions, priced at VND30,000 each, as “unsanitary and insufficient.”

He reported finding worms in the vegetables, which was served with dry rice, and cold soup.

“At times, I suspected the rice was leftover,” he said.

Nam described one of his meals as consisting of a small portion of rice, a tiny sausage, and five braised meatballs, while another featured a small amount of pumpkin soup, two pieces of tofu, and a bit of meat.

Nam said these meals were inadequate compared to meals priced between VND20,000 and 25,000 at nearby restaurants, especially given the physical demands of daily training.

He raised the issue with his teacher, but no action was taken, as the teacher was not responsible for the cafeteria.

Following the report, HUST conducted an internal investigation and confirmed that “some of the reported information was true” but did not disclose further details. The university acknowledged that the meal provider had received no direct complaints from students and claimed there had been no cases of food poisoning. However, the school found the provider’s explanations unconvincing.

As a result, HUST has terminated its contract with the provider and transferred services to another caterer. The university has also tasked the student affairs department with monitoring meal quality and addressing student complaints.

In its statement, the university expressed regret over the incident and extended an apology to students and parents. It emphasized its commitment to improving food quality and ensuring the well-being of its students.

The A15 cafeteria at Hanoi University of Science and Technology is temporary closed on Oct. 8, 2024. Photo by Read/Duong Tam

All university students in Vietnam are required to complete four modules of Defense and Security Education. Most Hanoi universities send students to military centers on Hanoi outskirts or the neighboring Vinh Phuc Province, but HUST has offered the course on its campus since 2022.

Each year, around 7,000 to 8,000 first-year students of HUST are divided into groups to take the course. The university previously assured that its cafeteria, with a capacity of 750 seats, adhered to hygiene and safety standards to offer students an authentic military-style experience.